South Australia Virtual Care Service links ambulance crew with patient by video to clinical health team
The South Australia Virtual Care Service linked an ambulance crew, on the scene with patients, via a video to a professional clinical team tht could assess the condition. and need for treatment.
The South Australia Virtual Care Service, introduced on 2021, had about 70% of its patients avoid being admitted to hospital emergency departments.
The state-wide service provided an individualised assessment service via video link for urgent patients on the scene with South Australia Ambulance crews, regional clinicians or aged care homes staff.
Providing patient-centric care from senior clinicians via the video link allowed ambulance crews to get back on the road, used local care options and eased reliance on metropolitan hospitals. South Australia Virtual Care Service team provided specialised clinical assessment via a video link in partnership with SA Ambulance Service, regional hospitals, community care teams and aged care homes staff who were on the scene with a patient. Its team could arrange followups to the visit with appropriate clinicians, including appointments and scripts.
The service was available every day from 8am to 10pm, identified as peak demand time for emergency resources. The service is designed to provide specialist support alongside treating clinicians. In 2023, it was not providing services direct to the community.
The South Australia Virtual Care Service allowed aged care home residents, who might otherwise have to an hospital emergency department to be consulted, to receive a clinical assessment in the comfort of their residence. Virtual care was delivered via the idea link by senior medical, nursing and paramedic staff working together to provide health navigation and virtual clinical consultation.
The age care home staff could use a dedicated smart phone/tablet to link with a video call to the virtual care service team, who will then provide a consultation. The South Australian Virtual Care Service was accepting new residential aged care homes’ registrations to receive its video-link care.
